An Ilorin Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of Abdulrahman Bello, a self-proclaimed Islamic cleric, and five others over the alleged ritual killing of Adefalu Hasfat Yetunde, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education. The case, which has sent shockwaves across the state, has been adjourned until March 6, 2025.
The suspects face multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human parts, and armed robbery. Their alleged actions violate the Penal Code, Kwara State’s prohibition law on human parts dealings, and Nigeria’s Robbery and Firearms Act.
According to police investigations, Bello and his accomplices allegedly lured Yetunde under false pretenses before killing her for ritual purposes. The police tracked the victim’s phone to Bello, leading to his arrest. “Upon arrest, he voluntarily confessed to the crime and led investigators to the recovery of some parts of the victim’s body in his house,” the charge sheet stated.
The other suspects—Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahmon Jamiu—were arrested following Bello’s confession. Police disclosed that the group had been linked to other disappearances in Kwara State.
The victim’s father, Adefalu Lawal Ibrahim, described his heartbreak over his daughter’s tragic fate. “She left home for a friend’s house after attending a naming ceremony but never returned. We called her several times, but there was no response,” he said.
The case has sparked widespread outrage in Ilorin, with residents demanding swift justice. Many have called on security agencies to intensify efforts in tackling ritual killings and ensuring that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
